This and That 12-04-11

Published 6:00 am, Sunday, December 4, 2011

AUSTIN HEIGHTS Community Center, 1811 N. Walter Griffin, will distribute Christmas baskets for children. Sign up from 1-3 p.m. Dec. 7-9 at the center; bring children to the sign-up.

Call Jean Turner at 806-388-8316 with questions.

PLAINVIEW HIGH School will administer the PLAN (practice ACT) test to PHS sophomores on Thursday. Sophomore home-school students wanting to participate should contact Rob Knight at 296-4051 by noon Wednesday to reserve a place. There is no charge for the test.

THE 2011 HOLIDAY Tree of Hope will be dedicated to the late PHS coach James Frazier at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the atrium of Covenant Hospital Plainview. All are welcome to bring an ornament in memory of Frazier and other cancer patients.

PHS CHOIR Christmas Concert and Cake Auction will be at 7 p.m. Monday in the PHS auditorium.

WITNESS WRITERS, a writing critique group, meets from 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturday at First United Methodist Church. Enter on the south side. Christmas snacks will be shared.New members and visitors are welcome; there is no charge. For more information contact Carole Bell at 806-292-0134, caroleabell@gmail.com or choose "Encouragement Groups" at www.ntchristianwriters.com.

SOUTH PLAINS College is pre-registering students for the spring semester, which begins Jan. 17. The next Accuplacer placement test will be Jan. 5. Students must pre-register. For assistance completing admission applications and financial aid forms, call 296-9611, ext. 4302 or 4304 or go by 1920 W. 24th St.

THE LITERARY LUNCH Bunch will meet at noon Feb. 28 in Van Howeling Room 124 at Wayland. Books to be discussed are: "Lead Like Jesus," by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges; "The Night Circus," by Erin Morgenstern; "The Killing of Lincoln," by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard; "The Elegance of the Hedgehog," by Muriel Barbery and Alison Anderson; "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet," by Jamie Ford; "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life," by Walter Isaacson; and "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis.

ASSISTANCE FOR those needing help paying for electricity and gas and who meet income requirements is available at South Plains Community Action, 1407 W. Fifth. Items needed include a utility bill, driver license, Social Security card for all household members, income verification for the last 30 days, landlord information.

Call 293-4397 for more information or to set up an appointment.

THE TEXAS AGRILIFE Extension Service and Texas Farm Bureau will host an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Floyd County Friends Unity Center in Muncy for those affected by new High Plains Underground Water District rules that go into effect Jan. 1. Jim Conkwright, High Plains Underground Water District manager in Lubbock, will present the program and answer questions.

The multi-county meeting will involve the AgriLife Extension offices in Floyd, Crosby, Briscoe, Swisher and Hale counties and the Farm Bureau office serving Floyd and Briscoe counties. Individual registration is $10, due at the door. The Floydada fire department will serve a barbecue meal as a fundraiser.

For more information contact the AgriLife Extension office in Floyd County at 806-983-4912.

CELEBRITY SERVERS will be at Pizza Hut from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday (not Thursday as previously reported.) All tips will be donated to the Plainview Area United Way.

FIRST BAPTIST Church worship choir, band and drama team will present "Gloria!" at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the worship center, 205 W. Eighth. Admission is free.

THE HALE CO. Republican Party will accept ballot applications for the 2012 Republican primary on Thursday afternoon. Candidates may apply at the office of the county chair, Mark Warren, Independent Insurance Agents of Plainview, 716 Broadway. Also, anyone wanting to run for a precinct chair may apply at that time. Call Warren at 293-7514 or Dave Courtney at 292-7728 with questions.

BOOK BUDDY BOOKS that are new or gently used may be dropped off at Kristi's, Unger Library or the Hale County Literacy Center through Dec. 16. For every new book dropped off at Kristi's, an extra 20 percent will be discounted marked-down merchandise. The literacy council will distribute books to children in crisis situations.

THE 27TH ANNUAL Ransom Canyon Christmas Tour of Homes will be from 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday. Advance tickets are $10, available by calling Mary Ann Crow at 777-4883. Tickets may be purchased for $15 the day of the event at the Ransom Canyon Fire Station. Proceeds benefit the Ransom Canyon Memorial Chapel.

TOYS FOR TOTS drop-off locations are West Texas Clinic of Chiropractic, 109 W. Ninth, until Friday and Reagor-Dykes Ford-Lincoln-Toyota until Dec. 14. Toys will be given by Marines to needy children.

THE SALVATION ARMY'S Angel Trees will be at Beall's, Leal's, Walmart and American State Bank until Dec. 19. Residents are encouraged to pick an angel off the tree then buy the gift listed for a needy resident. Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 201 Ash. Deadline is Dec. 17. Toys will be distributed from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 20 in StoneGate Shopping Center, 1001 N. I-27 Suite 216.

FAITH IN Sharing House, the Hale County food bank, is raffling a 26-inch LED/LCD HD TV on Friday. Tickets are $1 each and available from Tammy at HCSB or Karen at Rogers, Cross and Hanby.

SHOEBOX CHRISTMAS is preparing for its 15th year of delivering gifts to nursing home and assisted living residents, Meals on Wheels recipients and others. Approximately 500 gifts will include personal items such as lotion, soap, tissues, shampoo, powder, etc. Monetary donations may be sent to Shoebox Christmas Gifts, c/o Florence Carlisle, Billington Real Estate, 3109 Olton Road, Plainview, TX 79072.

SOROPTIMIST International of Plainview is accepting applications for the Women's Opportunity Award for women with primary financial responsibility for family members other than themselves; attending, or have been accepted to, an undergraduate degree or vocational skills training program; and demonstrate financial need. Deadline is Dec. 15.

For an application contact Brenda Rowan at brenda@jpcpas.com or 293-4135 ext 16.

JUNIOR SERVICE League is accepting donations for Dress-A-Live Doll. To donate money or shop for a child, contact Ana at 292-2707 or 293-2545 or Kristy at 470-9359. Donations may be mailed to: JSL, P.O. Box 384, Plainview, TX 79072.

ST. PAUL Lutheran youth group is selling Pecan Ridge pecan halves and pieces for $8 a pound. Delivery in Plainview is available. Call the church at 293-1697, Nelda Barbian at 296-5004 or Beverly Wall at 774-1040. Deadline is Dec. 17.

A FRIEND-TO-FRIEND quilt is being given away by the Silver Thimbles Quilting Club in Lockney. Tickets are $5 or three for $10, available by calling the Floyd County Texas AgriLife Extension office at 983-4912. Deadline is Dec. 31.

HALE COUNTY Senior Citizens Center visitors will receive a ticket for a drawing for $500, $300 and $200 each time they eat lunch at the center through Dec. 16.

DECEMBER READERS' Page will be published Wednesday. Readers are invited to submit original poetry, essays, features and photos to: Readers' Page, Box 1240, Plainview, TX 79072; bring them to the Herald at 820 Broadway; or e-mail to kwlewis@hearstnp.com. All submissions should include a name, town and daytime phone number.